I've been browsing through some of the yaoi/shounen-ai threads here and most of the titles mentioned are ones that...well, I wasn't really a fan of. So I'm going to leave you my own list of recommended yaoi/shounen-ai manga and request that if you have any further recommendations for me based on what I've listed, please share! I'm always looking for new titles but it's hard to wade through the multitudes of manga and find the good stuff...

I also LOVE what I've read so far of No. 6 and Uraboku (though I did watch the full anime series for both)...but those aren't technically shounen-ai, which upsets and depresses me to no end. (Does anyone else want to scream at the mangakas, "STOP BEING SUCH PUSSIES, YOUR BOYS LOVE EACH OTHER, LET THEM SAY IT!" 'Cause I know I do.)

I've seen a lot of recommendations for things like You Are My Loveprize in Viewfinder but I couldn't even read past the first chapter in that one - I hate manga where the relationships start from rape (hell, I'm kind of iffy about Junjou Romantica because Usagi kind of forced Misaki so many times...but damn, I got sucked into that particular manga haha). I've also attempted to read Gravitation since I did enjoy the anime, but for some reason, I just can't get into the manga. I've also read Haru wo Daiteita, which I thought was all right.

I think I actually prefer shounen-ai to yaoi simply because yaoi seems to generally spend more time on hot sex scenes than the actual relationship, and as much as I love me some boysex, I want that realistic romance much more. But then, as much as I love Komatta, No. 6, and Uraboku...I would also like something at least slightly more explicit. Seriously, those manga are driving me crazy - we all KNOW they're in love, but they say nothing and do nothing about it and as;dkjgnsdv WHYYYYYY.

Okay, I've rambled on enough. What are your yaoi/shounen-ai favorites?

I will say *most* of these are yaoi, but most spend more time on the relationship than sex as that is my preference. I can't say that these are all of my favorites or that they're all my top favorites, I just pulled them off of my list of manga I really enjoyed. I left off the ones already on your list, if I noticed, like little butterfly, Yatteraneeze!, Seven Days, Bukiyou Na Silent, and Bond(z). I don't really care for junjou/etc.

One of the best set of stories I've ever read was 'The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese' (prequel), and "The Carp on the Chopping Block Jumps Twice' by MIZUSHIRO Setona

It will definitely make you smile and tear up, and is very emotional. Has a lot of sex though, but it will surprise you have different it is than say, World's Greatest First Love.

I also recommend these, though if you like fluffy or simply happy stories about relationships, these may turn you off. They are not about a functional relationship in the slightest, but they're not stupid either. No fluffy rape-love(I can't recall if there is rape, but if there is, it's not like that), which I have a great distaste for. I felt a little unsettled after reading them, but in a good way I suppose.

Koisuru Boukun? Um that one is a lot of rape I guess lol but it is sweet! how their relationship progresses :3 Koisurur Boukun is a spinoff from Challengers. You don't really have to read that one to know what's going on :3

I've been browsing through some of the yaoi/shounen-ai threads here and most of the titles mentioned are ones that...well, I wasn't really a fan of. So I'm going to leave you my own list of recommended yaoi/shounen-ai manga and request that if y ou have any further recommendations for me based on what I've listed, please share! I'm always looking for new titles but it's hard to wade through the multitudes of manga and find the good stuff...

I also LOVE what I've read so far of No. 6 and Uraboku (though I did watch the full anime series for both)...but those aren't technically shounen-ai, which upsets and depresses me to no end. (Does anyone else want to scream at the mangakas, "STOP BEING SUCH PUSSIES, YOUR BOYS LOVE EACH OTHER, LET THEM SAY IT!" 'Cause I know I do.)

I've seen a lot of recommendations for things like You Are My Loveprize in Viewfinder but I couldn't even read past the first chapter in that one - I hate manga where the relationships start from rape (hell, I'm kind of iffy about Junjou Romantica because Usagi kind of forced Misaki so many times...but damn, I got sucked into that particular manga haha). I've also attempted to read Gravitation since I did enjoy the anime, but for some reason, I just can't get into the manga. I've also read Haru wo Daiteita, which I thought was all right.

I think I actually prefer shounen-ai to yaoi simply because yaoi seems to generally spend more time on hot sex scenes than the actual relationship, and as much as I love me some boysex, I want that realistic romance much more. But then, as much as I love Komatta, No. 6, and Uraboku...I would also like something at least slightly more explicit. Seriously, those manga are driving me crazy - we all KNOW they're in love, but they say nothing and do nothing about it and as;dkjgnsdv WHYYYYYY.

Okay, I've rambled on enough. What are your yaoi/shounen-ai favorites?

i totally agree with the viewfinder comments. i was surprised by how many ppl liked it, when i couldn't even finish the 1st freaking chapter!!! and the ones about shounen ai made me laugh coz they were my exact thoughts. they have the sweatest stories but they can drive u insane. i have a love/hate relationship with KOMATTA since nothing ever happens, and its already at about 49 chapters or more!!!!!

i totally agree with the viewfinder comments. i was surprised by how many ppl liked it, when i couldn't even finish the 1st freaking chapter!!! and the ones about shounen ai made me laugh coz they were my exact thoughts. they have the sweatest stories but they can drive u insane. i have a love/hate relationship with KOMATTA since nothing ever happens, and its already at about 49 chapters or more!!!!!

It kind of worries me how many people seem to love Viewfinder. I don't know, maybe it gets much sweeter later, but all I know is I could only read up to the page where the seme started raping the uke and I was just like NOPE, CAN'T READ THIS, GOODBYE. And I totally have a love/hate relationship with Komatta too XD Kiyomine and Takara are SO FREAKING ADORABLE but...just...WHY CAN'T THEY BE A LITTLE MORE NAUGHTY ABOUT IT?!

To everyone else: thank you so much for all the recommendations thus far! I've got quite a reading list now, can't wait to check out all these new manga! <3

I'll put on my old person hat and rec old manga. This is also for people who aren't terribly interested in the same crappy, cliched YAOI story over and over again.

Zetsuai and its sequel Bronze. The two main characters are utterly dysfunctional, most of the story is unrequited angst but it is just. so. good. The entire story is saved by the leads having an interesting past and a lot of unresolved issues. Each painful step they take will leave you on the edge of your seat. There are also OVA's and they have the best soundtrack based on a fictional rock star I have ever experienced. This is what Gravitation tried to be, but failed at miserably.

Naono Bohra also writes about unconventional couples and unconventional story lines. She does some extremely gross/disturbing works as well as more mainstream easily digested ones. There is almost always smut, non-stereotypical pairings and interesting action. I can't rec her highly enough but tread carefully - heed the warnings for each story.

Someone rec'd the Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese and I would like to follow up with a resounding YES. That was excellent, realistic and the art was very solid. It was also erotic and smutty without relying on nonsensical rape.

I would also like to rec Ai No Kusabi which is technically a novel series that was made into an OVA. I strongly suggest you check out the original OVA as the new one is production right now. It's very good, with a tragic story and has sci-fi elements with a social conscience.

For the comments on Viewfinder: some of us like a plotless smutty romp in YAOI country. It really does live up to the original acronym - no plot, no point, no climax. I liked it because of the art but I did find it lacked certain story telling elements I would have enjoyed seeing. I actually felt the first volume was the best, and the relationship for the rest of the series felt really contrived, I wanted more difficulties, challenges and preferably more people dying.

But that's just me, and I also thought Junjou was terrible and people resoundingly like that so...